Category Archives: Review

Security Sunday

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Until recently my password management system resembled an onion. The inner most layer contained the most sensitive access, each with a different random passwords. Each subsequent layer had a single password, but contained less and less access and/or information.

But I wanted to be more secure – and the fact is I have forgotten a number of passwords that I rarely use, which has cost me money and wasted my time. After some research I chose LastPass as a password management solution. It comes recommended from LifeHacker, Gina Tripani and Leo LaPorte.

For Mac users I found out that Sophos now has a free anti-virus solution. While I have only been using it for some hours, it does not seem to suck like the other solutions I have been trying. That said it hasn’t found anything – but I am taking to be a good sign.

For all other security tidbits I will point to the blog of Bruce Schneier. This will save me various airline security rants.

When my HTC Tattoo stopped playing with the Android Market

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I have an HTC Tattoo. In the fast-paced of Android handsets it’s no longer anything fancy, but it has been doing me reasonably well and I can’t yet justify something newer. But this week it needed to be fixed when it stopped playing nice with the Android Market.

Last week my HTC Tattoo wouldn’t update the Google Maps application. When I selected update it would think about it for a while, then inform me that it wasn’t successful. Stranger still, the Market application showed that the Google Maps application was no longer installed – although this was not true.

This week this problem started occurring with other applications. As far as I could tell there was enough internal memory, so something strange was going on.

Yesterday I copied all of my files off the memory card and formatted it. Then I reset phone.

Set-up was easy. All of the applications I had previously installed were still listed in the Download screen of the Market application. This meant I was able to quickly go through reinstalling everything I previously had. Since then everything appears to be working as normal.

Oziel seems to be having a similar problem with his phone, so I guess it is not just me … and thought this might help someone else.

My first flights in the A380

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I just got back from a brief interlude in Sydney. My primary reason for going was for the IWSPM 2010 conference where I presented a paper (PDF) that I coauthored with two colleagues. I also used this as an opportunity to work with my Australian supervisor and my main supervisor (who was also in Australia).

I was fortunate enough to fly on Qantas’ A380s for both the London-Sydney leg and the return Sydney-London leg. The A380 is still just a plane, but as far as planes go it was the smoothest and quietest ride I have ever had.

I normally like the thrill of take-off. But in such a large plane I didn’t get the same sense of acceleration. It didn’t feel like we had enough speed to get off the ground when the front of the plane lifted up. But the plane smoothly continued up to its cruising altitude. Similarly landing was an anticlimactic bump with smooth deceleration.

I would have appreciated a couple of extra centimetres of legroom (down the back in economy), but I cannot really complain as I had a vacant seat next to me for the entire journey from Copenhagen to Copenhagen.

Qantas’ A380s have the best inflight entertainment system I have ever used.

And I was also impressed that the self-service snack bar stocked Byron Bay Cookies, however, I would have like to see a wider variety of snacks. Although, the Snacks on Q bags were the best I have had to date.

It seems amongst my friends I have a few plane aficionados. So I thought it best to post these photos. I was amused to see the Singapore ground staff take the corner too fast and loose a luggage container.

Ginger beer

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Yesterday we made ginger beer, but didn’t want to drink it until it was ice-cold.

Ginger Beer

The recipe is surprisingly simple – the only ingredients are ginger, lime, sugar and water. The most time consuming part was roughly peeling the ginger with all its lumps and bumps.

Tim was correct when he said the recipe is spicy and gives you a kick. Both Oziel and I both watered it down to drink. We agreed it would be good mixed with carbonated water or a Lemon Loka (carbonated water with a twist of lemon and no sugar).

We thought that replacing the lime juice with lemon juice would also help reduce the impact of the “kick.

Lunch

Saturday in the kitchen

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I am an avid Google Reader user, and very regularly check the blog suggested via explore. For me the results are usually a very eclectic – ranging from breaking tech gadget news and nerdy comics to an inexplicable number of design blogs focusing on weddings. Somewhere in the middle come the food blogs – and this is where I found Lottie + Doof.

The post that first caught my attention was pasta with fresh corn pesto. And that is what Oziel and I made for dinner tonight. This is our attempt below.

Pasta with fresh corn pesto

We were very happy with the result. The recipe makes about four serves.

The other post that caught my attention was ginger beer. We also made that tonight, but haven’t had a glass yet as we want it ice-cold (so no photos).

I love ginger beer but, like salt and vinegar chips, it is one of the things that hasn’t taken off in Sweden. It is possible to buy from Gray’s American Store in Malmö. Gray’s sells supermarket goods from around the English speaking world that are otherwise hard to find in Sweden. They even sell Tim Tams for the bargin basement price of 9.20 AUD per pack!! However, all of their Cadbury chocolate comes from the UK =(